6.22.2011

June 22, 2011

White Dog and The White Dog Army Wonderful World Wednesday

White Dog has grown up with an appreciation of the finer aspects of life, including music, and spends much of her time sharing her refinement with those members of the family who have only relatively recently joined us. The slight change of her newest brother's name from just YoYo to YoYoMa probably gave away our enjoyment of the arts.

When a beautiful and incredibly perfect toned hand-crafted violin can change the world for the better without uttering a sound, we all know that something wonderful is happening. In this day of corporate greed and possessiveness, the Nippon Music Foundation demonstrated that the most beautiful music is the sound of helping your fellows:Stradivarius violin sold for $16M at charity auction21 June 2011 www.bbc.co.uk

A well-preserved Stradivarius violin has been sold in an online auction yesterday for £9.8m ($15.9m) to raise money for disaster relief in Japan. The 1721 violin was sold by the Nippon Music Foundation, with the entire proceeds going to their Northeastern Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund. Christopher Reuning, of Reuning & Son Violins in Boston, which sells and certifies instruments, said: "Rarely does a Stradivarius of this quality in such pristine condition and with such significant historical provenance come up for sale.

"It still shows the tool-marks and brushstrokes of Stradivari. The Lady Blunt is perhaps the best-preserved Stradivarius to be offered for sale in the past century."Tarisio described the foundation's decision to sell "what is considered the finest violin of their collection" as "a gesture of profound generosity".

The violin was offered for sale by the Nippon Music Foundation, owner of some of the world's finest Stradivari and Guarneri instruments. The violin is one about 600 instruments made by Italian Antonio Stradivari still in existence.

Foundation president KazukoShiomi said: "While this violin was very important to our collection, the needs of our fellow Japanese people after the March 11th tragedy have proven that we all need to help, in any way we can. "The donation will be put to immediate use on the ground in Japan."

The identity of its new owner has not been revealed.

Japan's latest police figures stated that 14,704 people are known to have died and another 10,969 remain missing following the earthquake and tsunami in March.

White Dog and the rest of the WDA believes that helping the victims of Japan's disasters with such a incredible sacrifice of a prized possession is a hymn to human compassion...and an anthem to doing the right thing.

Tonight, we ask that you honor this gift by listening to some favorite violin or fiddle music; let it lift your soul; and whisper a prayer of healing for those in Japan who are still in so much need!